BEHIND THE IRAN HEADLINES Series, June 15, 2021 Alireza Jafarzadeh, NCRI-US Deputy Director: Iran’s increasingly fragile regime will hold another sham presidential election on Friday June 18th. For many insiders, particularly Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, this contest is about survival. The nationwide uprisings in 2017, 2018, and […]
The Ultimate Winner in Iran’s 2021 Presidential Election Read More
BEHIND THE IRAN HEADLINES Series, June 9, 2021 Alireza Jafarzadeh, NCRI-US Deputy Director: This week, the IAEA’s Director General, Rafael Grossi, expressed alarm that after many months, the Iranian regime has not provided the necessary explanation for the undeclared nuclear material particles at any of the three
IAEA Alarmed by Tehran’s Ongoing Clandestine Nuclear Development Read More
BEHIND THE IRAN HEADLINES Series, June 4, 2021 Alireza Jafarzadeh, NCRI-US Deputy Director: On the anniversary of the death of Khomeini, the founder of the most repressive regime in Iran’s history, Supreme leader Ali Khamenei gave a speech which, in a word, expressed his jubilation that his
Khamenei Alarmed at Impending Widespread Election Boycott Read More
BEHIND THE IRAN HEADLINES Series, June 2, 2021 Alireza Jafarzadeh, NCRI-US Deputy Director: The campaigning for Iran’s June 18 presidential election began on May 28. This election has already shown it will be very consequential one with huge implications for the regime’s future and the
New Book Explains “Why Iran’s 2021 Election Is Different” Read More
BEHIND THE IRAN HEADLINES Series, May 26, 2021 Alireza Jafarzadeh, NCRI-US Deputy Director: The Iranian regime’s Supreme Leader has always controlled the Guardian Council, an unelected body charged with vetting candidates. But what happened this week was unprecedented. Khamenei disqualified several longtime establishment figures, most
2021 Iran Election: Why Khamenei Purged Larijan Read More
BEHIND THE IRAN HEADLINES Series, May 24, 2021 Alireza Jafarzadeh, NCRI-US Deputy Director: Over the weekend, the official website of the Iranian regime’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, published a congratulatory message by Ziyad al-Nakhalah, secretary general of the Islamic Jihad, addressed to Khamenei describing him as
Why Khamenei Encourages, Foments Regional Conflicts Read More
BEHIND THE IRAN HEADLINES Series, May 17, 2021 Alireza Jafarzadeh, NCRI-US Deputy Director: The Guardian Council vetting of Presidential candidates is not final, but officials including Khamenei are already expressing concern about a massive boycott. Following a call by the Iranian Resistance’s President-elect, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi,
Low Turnout Expected in Iran’s Presidential Election Farce Read More
BEHIND THE IRAN HEADLINES Series, May 12, 2021 Alireza Jafarzadeh, NCRI-US Deputy Director: The regime’s 13th presidential election will be held on June 18, 2021. Registration of candidates began on May 11 and will continue until May 15, 2021. The un-elected Guardian Council, half of whose
Iran’s June election, Khamenei’s impasse Read More
BEHIND THE IRAN HEADLINES Series, May 5, 2021 Alireza Jafarzadeh, NCRI-US Deputy Director: Today, the clerical regime withdrew the appeal against a Belgian high court’s conviction of its top Vienna-based diplomat, Assadollah Assadi, for the plot to bomb the Iranian Resistance’s 2018 Paris summit. Fearing a
Terrorism Conviction of Zarif’s Top Diplomat Upheld Read More
BEHIND THE IRAN HEADLINES Series, May 4, 2021 Alireza Jafarzadeh, NCRI-US Deputy Director: The leaked audio tape of Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif confirms what we already knew: The mullahs’ foreign policy is centered around terrorism, regional destabilization, and hostage- taking. Zarif has in effect acted
Zarif, Soleimani’s Partner in Terrorism Read More